Alloy



UNITED STATEg PATENT @FFHQE- COLIN G. FINK. OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CHlILE EXPLORATION COM- rm, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Anno

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To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, (man (1 l luu, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, in the county of 'estchester, State of New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alloys; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear. and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. This invention relates to alloys and more particularly to alloys adapted to resist the corroding action of acid liquors. The invention has for its object the provision of an improved corrosion-resisting alloy.

The provision of an appropriate corrosion-resisting material which will satisfactorily resist the corrosive action of a particular acid or acid liquor is generally not a ditficult problem. Thus, for example, lead is well adapted to withstand the corrosive action of sulfuric acid and sulfuric acid liquors, and it is, therefore, customary to build or line receptacles, conduits, pumps and the like, when intended to contain or convey sulfuric acid liquors, with lead. \Vhen the liquor contains two or more acids, such, for example, as sulfuric and nitric acids, or sulfuric, nitric and hydrochloric acids. the provision of a satisfactory material for withstanding the corrosive action of these different acids becomes a matter of considerable difficulty. The present invention contemplates the provision of an improved alloy adapted to withstand the corrosive action of a liquor containin; two or more mine a1 acids, and more particularly aims toprovide a satisfactory alloy for withstanding the corrosive. action of a liquor containing sulfuric, nitric and hydrochloric acids.

The alloy of the invention is of particular advantage in handling the acid liquors encountered in the electro deposition of copper. The most common electrolyte used in the electro deposition of copper is one containing copper sulfate and sulfuric acid. Frequently. the copper sulfate electrolyte is substantially free. of nitrates and chlorids and in such cases lead may be satisfactorily employed as the corrosion-resisting material. llowever. many copper sulfate electrolytes containing appreciable quantities of nitrates and chlorids are encountered in.

Application filed January 26, 1920. Serial No. 354,218.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 32, M1321.

commercial practice. Lead will not withstand the corrosive action of such an electrolyte due to the fact that it is vigorously attacked by the nitrates and ch'lorids in the acid liquor. The improved alloy of my present invention, on the contrary, stands up satisfactorily in this copper sulfate electrolyte containing free sulfuric acid together with substantial amounts of nitrates and chlorids in solution.

The improved alloy of the invention, in its preferred aspect, contains lead, tin and thallium. lln the case of some liquors, such as acid liquors containingsulfates and chlorids but substantially free of nitrates, I have found an alloy of lead and thallium to be a suitable corrosion resisting material. lln general, however, I prefer to include in the alloy appropriate amounts of each of the three metals,lead, tin and thallium.

'lheproportions of the lead, tin and thallium in my improved alloy may be varied within relatively wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, I have found that from 3 to 65 per cent. of thallium and up to around 25 per cent. of tin may be used in making; up satisfactory corrosion-resisting alloys for use in various acid liquors. It will be understood that the balance of the alloy is made up of lead. The lead may, if desired. contain a suit-able lead hardeninc agent, such for example, as barium. i or this purpose the finished alloy may contain up to 3 per cent. of barium. in some cases I have found the addition of bismuth to the alloy to be advantageous, and I have used with success up to 10 per cent. of bismuth.

For use in handling copper sulfate electrolytes containing substantial amounts of nitrates and chlorids in solution, I have secured excellent results with an alloy containing- 70 per cent. lead. 20 per cent. tin and 10 per cent. thallium. I have. found that the tin content of this alloy may be varied from '10 to 30 per cent. and the thallium content varied from 3 to 65 per cent. without prejudicially affecting the corrosion-resisting properties of the resulting alloy. Where desired, the alloy may contain an appropriate lead hardening agent. and for this purpose 1 have; found the inclusion of from 1 to 3 per cent. of barium in the alloy to give benecial results.

The various metallic ingredients entering into the. improved alloy fuse at relativel low temperatures and the alloy can be ma e without difiiculty by mixing and melting, or melting and mixing, the various metallic ingredients in the desired proportions.

The alloy of the invention is particularly adapted for lining tanks, receptacles, conduits, pumps and similar apparatus for holding or conveying acid liquors. In addition I have found that the alloy may be used with advantage in making up anodes for the electro deposition of copper from copper sulfate electrolytes, and more particularly from such electrolytes containing sulfuric acid and substantial amounts of nitrates or chlo rids or both.

I claim 1. An alloy resistant to the corrosive action of acid liquors and containing lead and 3 to 65 per cent. of thallium.

2.- An alloy containing a preponderating percentage of lead and at least 3 per cent. of thallium.

3. An alloy containing lead and 3 to 65 per cent. of thallium and 10 to :50 per cent. of tin.

4. An alloy containing a preponderating percentage of lead, at least 3 per cent. of thallium, and up to 30 per cent. of tin.

An alloy containing a preponderating percentage of lead, at least 3 per cent. of thallium, up to 30 per cent. of tin, and from 1 to 3 per cent. of a lead-hardening agent.

6. An alloy containing 3 to (55 per cent. of thallium, 10 to 30 per cent. of tin, 1 to 3 per cent. of barium, and the balance of lead.

7. An alloy containing about 20 per cent. of tin, about 10 per cent. of thallium, and about 70 per cent. of lead.

8. An alloy containing about 20 per cent. of tin about 10 per cent. of thallium and about (0 per cent. of lead in which is included from 1 to 3 per cent. of barium.

9. An alloy containing a preponderating percentage of lead, at least 3 per cent. of thallium and from 10 to 30 per ent. of tin.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

COLIN (Jr. FINK. 

